New hearing today in Sierra Leone for the 27 soldiers accused of having participated in an attempted coup d’état. Since Monday, they have been heard by the Court Martial in Freetown, the country’s capital. This trial follows the attack on November 26, when a group of men stormed several military and law enforcement installations. The clashes that followed caused the death of 21 people according to the authorities.
The 27 soldiers face multiple charges, including mutiny, failure to prevent a mutiny, murder and aiding the enemy. The hearings are taking place under high security, while the country has been in turmoil since these events. But that’s not all: these soldiers are only some of the people involved in this attempted coup. In all, around 80 people have been arrested since November 26, including former President Ernest Bai Koroma, accused of treason and under house arrest. He should be heard in a week.
This case continues to make waves in Sierra Leone, where daily life is now punctuated by hearings and legal proceedings. The country is in the midst of questioning the events that occurred last November and is seeking to understand how such acts could have occurred. The Ministry of Defense recently announced the end of an investigation into 28 members of the security forces, all dismissed for having belonged to an illegal WhatsApp group. According to the government, these soldiers were involved in subversive activities aimed at overthrowing the government and President Julius Maada Bio.
However, critics are emerging who question the credibility of this trial. Some accuse the head of state of political score-settling and manipulating the legal process for personal gain. This attempted coup has therefore become a political terrain where actors compete for the narrative and try to advance their interests.
It is important to remember that every defendant has the right to a defense and the opportunity to respond to the charges against him or her. The judicial procedure must be respected and must not be tainted by political considerations. The Ministry of Information also denounces any politicization of the case and calls for focusing on the facts and evidence presented during the hearings.
Sierra Leone is currently facing a period of turbulence and challenges to its political system. The results of this trial will have significant repercussions on the future of the country and on the population’s confidence in institutions. It is therefore essential that justice is delivered in a fair and impartial manner and that the truth emerges from this legal process.